In a testament to determination and the pursuit of lifelong dreams, Dr Alain Mangan has successfully navigated a winding path as a mature-aged student to join the medical fraternity at QEII Hospital.
At 48, Alain is set to embark on his medical career, bringing a wealth of life experiences and a unique perspective to the field.
In his early years, Alain engaged in various roles, including unskilled labour, cleaning, taxi driving, and sales. However, a pivotal moment occurred when Alain and his ex-wife, with five children in tow, decided to reassess their lives. This led him to pursue medicine, starting with a BioMed degree.
“When my youngest child was two my ex-wife and I kind of looked at each other one day and thought, what are we doing with our lives?,” he said.
“I kind of went sideways by upskilling in the lab. I did six months of a Masters by Coursework and then moved into Masters by Research.”
Despite facing challenges, such as missing out on the GAMSAT by two points, Alain didn't give up. Eventually, a successful GAMSAT attempt paved the way for his entry into medicine at the University of Queensland.
Choosing QEII Hospital as his first preference over larger institutions, Alain expressed his love for the hospital's atmosphere, community feel, and the personalised experience it offers.
“I did a few placements at QEII and I really love the vibe here. I love the atmosphere, it's the people that makes it feel like a community and I'm thrilled to be here.”
Reflecting on the balancing act of managing medicine and a family with five adult children, Alain commended the support network that played a crucial role in his success.
“I think if I had done medicine back when I originally wanted to, I think it would have been significantly more difficult.
“Because I started when my kids were more independent it was much easier to manage my commitments and the kids were thrilled when they came to my graduation.”
Alain shared his motivation for pursuing medicine, citing a passion for helping people and the intellectual challenge of problem-solving in a medical context.
“I get a patient story, and then I have to work out what direction do we go with this? And I love that, but the bit I really don't like is not having the answers. There’s so many opportunities for learning here that I feel confident I’m in good hands.”
Offering advice to others contemplating a similar path, Alain encouraged them to take the leap, emphasizing that regrets usually stem from missed opportunities.
“Go for it. You need a very good support network around you, but once you have that in place, take the leap. You won't regret it.”
Alain looks forward to putting his acquired skills into practice and contributing to the healthcare community with these first steps on his medical journey at QEII Hospital. His story serves as an inspiration to those who believe age should not be a barrier to pursuing one's passion in the ever-evolving field of medicine.